«
»

Best He’s Ever Sung It – Duane Allen, Oak Ridge Boy

December 14th, 2012 . Posted in Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Famous People, Public Appearance, Role model, Traveling | Comments Off on Best He’s Ever Sung It – Duane Allen, Oak Ridge Boy
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What a beautiful drive from Tonopah to Las Vegas. The sun was setting as we headed to Las Vegas. My phone went out so we had to try to find our way. Signage in Las Vegas is bad. And we weren’t sure where the hotel was. I had assumed it was on the strip. Not.

We got directions. Sort of. Ya can’t miss it…Sure. Ee could see the hotel marquis but we couldn’t get there from here. So we circled it. And circled it. And circled it. Smaller circles. And…

finally arrived, called our pal DK.

As I was checking in, I turned around and saw….DUANE ALLEN. Very cool. We chatted a bit about our trip. We figured out that Chuck Yeager was probably buzzing the Cliffords the day, the very talented Oak Ridge Boy Duane Allen was born.

As Duane and Gen Y were talking, I spied JOE BONSALL. “JOOOOOEY!” I cried out. He flashed his infectious smile and came over to greet the General. And me. Nice.

Next I felt an arm around my shoulders and a hug and a very deep Hello. RICHARD STERBAN.

We visited for a while. The boys were off to a TV interview at the big rodeo in town. DK came over, with our room keys – taking great care of us. Big greeting.

Next was WILLIAM LEE GOLDEN. A warm welcome, a story and out the door.

Nice.

We headed up to our room. Wow. I’ve seen some 5 star, first class rooms in my life, but this one…two stories with a wide circular staircase.

At 7:30pm, we went to dinner with DK and the head of entertainment. Gen Y had had a hankering for a good rib-eye steak. But the one he got wasn’t good…..it was GREAT!

The crème brulee was super – they are the first ones to really get it right – very shallow so high ratio of brulee to crème.

We headed to the show. We saw the line and guessed the door. As I opened it, a beautiful black gal cried out – the showroom isn’t open yet. A tall guy next to her reinforced her statement.

Me, keeping my distance :-) : I’ve got the General with me.

Magic words.

The beauty said: “Follow me. I’ll take you back.

As we followed her, I said: “Nothing like getting yelled at by a beautiful woman.”

The tall fellow, who was bringing up the rear, answered: “Why thank you!” (Ha Ha!) as the beauty turned around with an even larger beautiful, pleased, smile.

We got backstage, thanked our escort, and visited with the band. And then the Boys as they came in.

When it came time, Gen Y and I made our way to the wings. DK introduced the General and he went onstage to introduce the Boys.

One never knows what the General is going to say. This time he told the wonderful story titled: The first time I saw a jet, I shot it down.

I won’t tell it here – it’s a great story.

He then went on to tell the story of how he met the Boys way back when and introduce a group that reminded him of the great Quartets he loved as a kid, the ever talented Oak Ridge Boys.

The Boys came on stage and greeted/thanked the General. He left and they launched into a rousing song.

General Yeager and I danced our way backstage to our seats, led by the tall young man.

What a night!

It was Oak Ridge Boys hits night.

Each of the guys sang superbly. It was a great show.

William Lee took his sunglasses of to reveal those beautiful blue eyes as he sang one of his signature songs. I can’t decide which one I like the best. Perhaps today “Before I die…”

As William Lee was singing one of the leads, two people who were truly enjoying perhaps their 10th beer walked across the front of the audience to their seats in the first row. The guy ran out and came back with two more. William Lee held his hand out and shadowed him across the stage. The guy was oblivious.

And it was a fun moment by William Lee as he didn’t miss a beat in his singing. So spontaneous, so fun. Moments like that give glimpses into a person which truly enhances a live show. Especially if that person is William Lee. Nice.

William Lee also did a little clogging – perfectly in time to the end of the song. The audience went wild.

At one point, Jeff Douglas, Rex Wiseman, and Donny Carr playing various types of guitars of did some synchronized guitar waving. Very amusing.

At another point, the Boys, particularly William Lee and Joe just started laughing or smiling broad smiles while singing. It was infectious. And they didn’t skip a beat singing. Joe almost did but it was a far better moment than had he not.

Much later, I glanced over at Jimmy Fulbright. He was smiling to himself just having a great time. Again, infectious. I asked him later what he was laughing at – he was just enjoying himself watching the show from another view. Fun!

About 80% into the show…Joe told the audience that they had had their set all set. So to speak. But then they learned the General was driving in. “He wasn’t even there yet and we had to change our set set. Only the General can have that effect.”

The next song was the General’s favorite Oak Ridge Boys song, as Joe said.

When the music started: Big smile on General Yeager’s face.

Three phrases in, General Yeager said to me: “That’s the best Duane’s ever sung it.”

And it was.

I took a moment to check the rest of the band and boys.

Each, especially Chris Goldin, William Lee Golden, was still, watching, listening to Duane sing his heart out, all very moved. They had heard and played it before but it had been a while and tonight…well, tonight…

As William Lee said later: It was magical.

For everyone there. And that is some compliment from one singer to another. Very gracious, too.

The only instrument beside voice was the keyboard with Ron Fairchild. Ron had taken a hiatus for 2 years. He started playing along as usual with Duane. He told us later, he slowly noticed no one else was playing their instruments….he looked around, wondered….and figured oh well, kept playing, kept playing beautifully as a great complement to Duane. Sweet.

One of the reasons I also love this song is I can clearly hear each voice in the harmony as Duane leads.

I looked over at the General. Pure, full feelings. Indescribable.

After this, the ORBs sang some Christmas songs. Richard sings so beautifully so deeply.

Of course, the night would not be complete without Elvira.

Before I met General Yeager, I was not much on country western (as a fellow from Tennessee said: I like both) or country gospel. But I had heard of the song Elvira.

After I met General Yeager, I started to get to know the Boys little by little. What I appreciated from day one was that they are the consummate professional entertainers. It’s really a show of great singing and lots of fun and great feeling.

When I was a kid and would sing to the radio, it drove one of my brothers bonkers. I never got the words right. My hearing was off the charts good but I could never discern all the words correctly. Obviously. I think my bro should have seen the humor in that.

I was more of a music person and often forgot to listen to the words. But then I liked to sing. So…I should have just gone into writing parody. I sang parody….by accident.

So you might understand why it took me a few concerts to learn the words and music for the audience’s part in Elvira.

Now I sing it out with glee: LIPS LIKE CHERRY WINE. (I hope those are the right words :-)

And I sing along with Joe the other lines (which I can’t remember now hence the need to sing along…Sigh).

And with Richard: Oom pah pah mow mow.

The audience was dancing – they had moved down to in front of the stage.

After Elvira, was Bub ba ba bub ba ba bub ba ba Bobbie Sue. Now those are words I can do!

More audience moved down to in front of the stage.

After the song concluded and the ORBs left the stage, many people came up to the General to get their photo taken with him. He graciously accommodated all.

We headed to the green room. We thanked Duane and eventually headed to our room.

It had been a long day and a late show. And one heck of a show.

c. GCYI

Tonopah – Stone Cabin Ranch

December 13th, 2012 . Posted in Aviation, Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Famous People, Flying with Chuck Yeager, Friends, Historical, Traveling | Comments Off on Tonopah – Stone Cabin Ranch
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“He’s singing it the best ever,” said General Yeager three phrases into the song.

And he was.

We had gotten a call from the Oak Ridge Boys’ Road Manager, DK. “You’all coming to Vegas for the show?”

We had never been to Vegas for their show but it seemed like a good idea. I contacted a few acquaintances and friends with airplanes to see if they’d like to go…and take us. It was too short notice.

Gen Y had been wanting to visit Stone Cabin Ranch for a while and it’s a little more than halfway so we started thinking in that direction.

Then someone said it was the Boys’ best Christmas show ever. That cinched it. Hate to miss that.

It was a glorious day for driving. The mountains and valleys with the late fall light are magnificent.

I’m always reminded of how great and beautiful the United States of America is when I go driving out west.

I had tried calling the Cliffords at Stone Cabin Ranch. Either the subscriber was unavailable or the number was disconnected. The ranch, the oldest continuously running ranch in Nevada, was still intact. So we figured we’d stop in.

Stone Cabin Ranch: General Yeager was stationed in Tonopah for flight training in March-May 1943. His buddy McKee and he decided to take a jeep and go hare huntin’.

They also decided to drop in on one of the ranches they had been buzzing.

Pa Clifford came out and invited them in for some food. Lucky for the 357th FG, the Cliffords were most appreciative of these boys going off to fight for their country. The Cliffords found it rather exciting to be buzzed.

They set up a system. Whenever the boys buzzed, Ma or Pa Clifford would wave a white sheet to let them know they could come for Sunday dinner. If no, sheet, don’t come.

Ma would have a long kitchen dining table, “sagging in the middle from being loaded down with homemade pies, cakes, all sorts of food, “as General Yeager says now.

There would be 15 guys from the base.

One time, Pa or Pops, was murmuring about the tree needing to be cropped.

F/O Yeager said he’d do it.

Next flight out, here comes Yeager on a very low buzz (8 feet above the ground). He cropped that tree very neatly. When he returned to base, his maintenance guy asked what happened.

F/O Yeager said, “I hit a bird.”

Maintenance: “Must have been carrying a pretty big nest!”

We saw the tree, a type of weeping willow – you can see where it had been trimmed. But it  is huge now.

Stone Cabin got its name from the cabins being built of stone and into the stone outcroppings very near a creek. Sort reminded F/O Yeager of home – storing food in the caves to keep it cold.

So F/O Yeager and I drove to Tonopah. (Of course he is now a General. But as memories filled the car, we were transported back in time.)

We passed by Mina as F/O Yeager told me of the time the 357th FG guys went to check out the girls there. They boys had gotten bored of Taxine’s and her girls in Tonopah.

After a while of rowdiness, the sheriff in Mina threw them out. Now if you’ve ever driven through Mina, you’d agree with me: That must have been some serious rowdiness, so bad I can’t even imagine, for Mina to throw you out.

The next day, the water tower at Mina was shot up by a P-39. They could never figure out who done it.

And of course the 357th buys never went back. As Gen Yeager joked, “Nah. The girls were too dirty – no water to take a bath. Heh heh.”

We stopped at the Mispah, now a hotel, but in F/O Yeager’s day, a bar, or the bar.

It’s an interesting, historic hotel. Reminiscent of the Wild West in style but with fairly modern amenities. I could just imagine the guys handing out at the long bar.

Gen Y was reminded of his pals in the 357th FG and told this story to the hotel owner: One guy was eating his soup, so tired his head fell into his soup. Blub blub, blowing bubbles with his face partly submerged in the soup.  The way Gen Y tells it, just cracked us up, bending over double.

The next morning, after breakfast, we headed out to Stone Cabin Ranch. There was Roy, the grandson of Ma & Pop Clifford. His sister joined us for coffee as did his mother. Gen Yeager reminisced as did they.

Doris told us that whenever they heard/saw Chuck Yeager coming, they all hit the dirt. This particular time, they were in the road. All yelled: “Hit the dirt!” but Doris couldn’t – she was 9 months pregnant and so just leaned against the car bracing herself.

I asked if that child didn’t like loud noises. Or was a nervous type? She pointed at Roy, one of the most relaxed people I’ve seen. We laughed.

Roy talked about his grandfather or father refusing to “hit the dirt” by getting off his horse. By golly after that buzzing, he never tried to stay on his horse again.

It was all good natured memories of a time gone by.

We then walked around the ranch – saw the spring behind the house in which Ma and Pa Clifford lived. Beautiful drinking water. That cup has been there since the late 30’s perhaps.

Gen Y reminisced about the kitchen table some more. The house was moved – it had been a bar for the local miners.

Another building had been a school house.

We then walked to where the horses were – wild stallions would try to come steal the mares. Nothing’s changed.

And we looked at the buildings built into the rock. A horse had fallen through the roof and its bridle only had gotten caught on a meat hook. They were able to get her loose and get out of the way as, once freed from this panic, she took off.

We visited with Gladys, Ma and Pa’s daughter-in-law and with a few more grandkids. Gladys is a lovely woman, just a few months younger than Gen Y.

After a few pistachio nuts, photo viewing, reminiscing, we headed out.

We saw the air base. Three hangars were still standing. Barely. And the old entrance was still there.

We stopped at the museum – saw a photo of Taxine and her girls. We also saw the remains of a torn up P-39 that was 4 feet under – just the prop tips sticking out when they found it.

After a brief visit, we were on our way to Las Vegas. From 1943 to 2012

To see the Oak Ridge Boys.

c. GCYI

“Did you have the best view?”

October 29th, 2012 . Posted in Aviation, Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Friends, Historical, Traveling | Comments Off on “Did you have the best view?”
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“Did you have the best view?” General Yeager asked an elderly French woman.

We were in Southern France visiting places where Gen Yeager had been shot down during World War II and worked with the Maquis.

We had found out an elderly couple who saw Chuck Yeager’s plane coming toward them and crash about 50′ short.

March the 5th, 1944; General Yeager had flown on a mission to Bordeaux to take out the Bordeaux Merignac airfield, the German submarine pens & some of the warships in the harbor there.

He was pretty stoked. The day before he had shot down his first enemy aircraft, a German Me 109.

The weather was “stinkin’” so they turned East for some targets of opportunity.  Just as they turned, General Yeager who was flying tail end Charlie called Break. The Germans were behind them. He did a head on pass with three German aircraft. It was too much. They shot up his airplane, and a bit of shrapnel hit him as well.

He and his airplane parted company as it fell apart in pieces around him. (Remember that was General Yeager’s answer when I said This is so hard to get in and out of, how did you get out when it was shot up? “I didn’t – it fell apart in pieces around me).

As Chuck Yeager fell towards the ground, waiting until the last minute to open his shoot; his flight leader shot down the German who had shot him down – that German was aiming for Gen Yeager in his free fall.

And Yeager’s plane, what was left of it, screamed towards the ground, flying pilotless and creating a smokin’ hole next to where the elderly couple, then a very young couple, were…well….having a tryst.

Monsieur was avoiding being conscripted by the Germans so he had to be very careful bicycling around the countryside. In fact, the Germans came that day to his parents’ house looking for him so it’s a good thing he was….out. They got word to him, “Son, don’t come home.”

I asked Madame about the tryst and if she would discuss it on camera. She was reluctant because in 1944, one just didn’t have sex before marriage. During the war though, one never knew if one would survive.

I tried to convince her it was okay today – there would be no stigma. In fact, au contraire, it was a wonderful love story as they got married just 3 months later and were still happily married today 66 years later.

To convince her, I called in the “cavalry”. Or in this case, the fighter pilot.

I translated Madame’s story into English for General Yeager – that she and her husband were having a tryst (making love) when they saw the plane coming right at them and crash quite close..

General Yeager listened to this, and without skipping a beat, said: Now did you have the best view? Were you on the bottom?

I tried to refrain from laughing so I could translate.

Madame burst into giggles, tickled that he would tease her like that, waving a finger at him in mock remonstration.

The cavalry had succeeded. She’d tell the story on camera.

Monsieur and Madame were two peas in a pod. Both were little, about the same height, maybe four feet five, incredibly agile and alert.

I would ask questions from behind the camera. I wondered if my French was understandable – but I had spent time in the south. Southern France has a different accent and some vocabulary is different.

Monsieur would respond: What?

Darn, speaking French is like a human thesaurus, looking for other words to say the same thing.

By the time I had reformulated the French, Madame was repeating the question…..verbatim.

And he understood.

Like so many couples who have lived together for some period of time, one is able to understand only thru the voice of their loved one.

I was thrilled! I had gotten it right.

Monsieur would then answer.  Or Madame would if I specifically directed a question to her.

They were delightful.

When we were finished filming, we had sandwiches for lunch. It had started to rain outside so we stayed put to ride it out.

The couple offered us coffee and water. A sign of real hospitality. Very kind. They were not rich, but they had provided for their family and survived.

The rain abated, the stories slowed, the gear packed up, the coffee drunk, and after bidding farewell, we left the young, elderly couple – just imagining them when they were lovers before a lifetime together as true married partners.

Addendum: In 2018, we returned to the area looking forward to seeing our friends and learned they had died about 3 months earlier – within a week of each other. So the love story continues.

c. PMN III LLC

65TH ANNIVERSARY OF BREAKING MACH 1 WITH 65TH AGGRESSORS SQUADRON

October 21st, 2012 . Posted in Aviation, Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Famous People, Flying with Chuck Yeager, Friends, Historical, Philanthropy, Role model | Comments Off on 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF BREAKING MACH 1 WITH 65TH AGGRESSORS SQUADRON
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What a day. Started at 6am.

The day before a friend had picked us up at our local general aviation airport, flew us through the Sierras to Nellis AFB. I had brought sandwiches so we checked into VOQ, chowed down, had a short rest, and went off the to Flight Surgeon for a check. Very informed and informative doctors. Next was egress systems. Without being cheeky, Gen Yeager might have taught them a thing or two. After being checked out in the cockpit, he carefully examined everything in the backseat. This attention to detail is one of the many reasons General Yeager is held in high esteem by the maintenance guys and gals.

Even if he has flown the same type and model before, if it’s a different airplane, he’ll ask them to check him out. Lots of pilots will just jump in and go fly. Not a good idea. Each plane has its own idiosynchracies.

After reviewing with his co-pilot, and then studying a bit himself, he pointed to something and said, “Has this always been in there – from the first F-15s?”

The pilot didn’t know as he hadn’t been around since the 1980’s, but he thought so. Maybe.

I realized later: General Yeager had never been in the backseat of an F-15.  Or rarely.

After these preparations were complete, we went to one of the 65th Aggressor Squadron pilot’s homes for a squadron party with families. What a nice group of people! And the food was great as well.

A gentleman had bought for all of us a grand Italian dinner. We had driven up the same time he had so we all helped him bring in the food. I almost just took the tin foil platter of meatballs and went off by myself. They smelled GOOD!

After some chatting, talking, eating, and then some more eating…

One of the little girls was checking into a chocolate gooey thang and said What’s in this? We found the chef/Mom who had made it: chocolate, peanut butter….little girl was happy. In fact, it drew all the little girls.

Someone else asked and I told them. She: Did you make it?

Me: No.

She (accusatory…sort of): How did you know what was in it?

Why do I get all the hard questions?  Me:  I….asked. (Is this a trick question?)

After I ate all I could: artichoke dip thing, a different artichoke dip thing, caesar salad, meatballs, pizza, dessert, artichoke dip thing….Oops going around again. I did too – we did some photo taking with each family and then we headed off to bed.

The alarm was set for 6:30am Sunday, October 14, 2012. Sixty-five (65) years after Gen Yeager woke up to break the sound barrier for the first time. His life would change that day in 1947. But this day we were up at 6.

I gave General Yeager a t-shirt to wear under his flight suit – one of the Oak Ridge Boys. They were going supersonic with the General today. Okay. They weren’t. But their photos on the T-shirt were.

The guys picked us up at 7:15am for a 7:30am briefing. The briefing was outstanding. General Yeager gave them some pointers on how and where to make the sonic boom so that Edwards would hear it. They had had some concerns about pinpointing it. I pointed out that, after 65 years of breaking the sound barrier, sometimes for air shows for the Air Force; Gen Yeager knows exactly.

The guy asking conceded.

I was reminded of an air show approx 10 years or more earlier. Gen Yeager was going to fly a P-51 but it didn’t arrive in time. Another retiree was slated to fly an F-15 and Gen Yeager was going to fly on his wing.

However, the retiree did not show up. General Yeager was not current or prepped, so another officer but who was current, stepped in. General Yeager was giving him pointers esp as it was a perfect day to see the shock wave. WOW! I was looking forward to that.

He generously and courteously told the General just what to do to have a great result. The General , who had never flown in an air show or to purposefully place a shockwave and sonic boom, impatiently said, I know what I’m doing!

Well. It’s just not a good idea to say that to General Yeager when he’s offering his help.

A little while later, after the other General had taken off, while I was chatting with Pete and Gail Knight; I heard a slight whisper – like a fffffff-t.

It took a moment for all of us to realize what it was – Gen Yeager said, I can hear a gnat f–t louder than that!  – and what it wasn’t.

No boom. And no seeing the shock wave through the stratus.

The other general’s wife said: I guess he doesn’t have a job after he retires.

Much later, the general said to me smiling: They said they heard it in the housing area and it was a big boom.

Me (laughing good-naturedly): They work for  you, General!

====

Back at the briefing Sunday, Oct 14, 2012: General Yeager also gave them the team the best route to Edwards and to breaking the sound barrier.

We finished the briefing and went to put on the gear.

Gen Yeager: Miles of string.

Then we headed out to the planes. The day before I had been asked if Gen Yeager wanted stairs or a ladder. I said, Ask him. He often surprises me. (I’d take the stairs).

When they asked him, he said ladder – it was already up. And he was the mountain goat as Prince Malik would say – he raced right up the ladder. Now getting into the cockpit is no easy feat. For anyone. At any age.

But he did it and quite gracefully. He was about to fly his favorite plane today to fight a war: F-15. Best plane for the money.

Once in, the maintenance guys helped with the gear, made sure everything was connected. We waited because they had gotten through everything early and they didn’t want to take off early and run out of fuel for the whole mission.

General Yeager called out – he wanted to give me his blue hat with the star to hold onto. I asked the maintenance guy to toss it down – but he didn’t want to risk it so carried it down to me. After another several minutes, Gen Yeager called to me to come on up. I did.

That was challenging – that ladder and getting to a sitting position on the wing. I prayed I didn’t fall -that would hurt…if I survived. I peered into the cockpit – as General Yeager explained the different gauges and buttons.

Most of the basic flight gauges were very familiar – since I was now a licensed pilot. The weapons systems were an addition to my knowledge.

The time drew near. Getting onto the ladder….made it. I climbed down and moved off quite a distance. One sure doesn’t want to get sucked up into those engines and spit out.

They closed the canopy, started the engines. We all put our earplugs in. After they started moving, turned the corner, we jumped into a van and drove out to the runway to watch them taxi past.

The General is ready to go (Photo to come)Ready to go

Gen Yeager ready to taxi

Photo by Lawrence Crespo, Nellis AFB, NV

They went to a holding area – they were still 7 minutes early for take-off. Time stood still. Finally, they started rolling again to take position on the runway.

Gen Yeager armed & ready

General Yeager armed and ready

Photo by 1st Airman Jason Couillard, Nellis AFB, NV

Gen Yeager waved at me. The PIC did a sort of yee haw wave…and they started racing down the runway. As he lifted off, the fire came out of the engines as they raced toward the blue sky. The second aircraft took the active (runway) and followed.

Within seconds, you couldn’t see them. Nothing to do but wait until they returned. We wouldn’t hear the boom – I had tried to get someone to skype or call me so I could hear it, but to no avail.

But at exactly the minute, if not the second General Yeager broke the sound barrier 65 years ago, he broke it again last Sunday, October 14, 2012. Later reports from some celebrators at Edwards AFB confirmed it was a loud sonic boom. As I said…:-)

At the appointed hour, we raced back to the end of the runway. Our choice was: be where he landed or be where he did his razor turn. Hard choice.

After flip flopping as well as any politician, I chose the turn. Others chose the landing. We were chatting when I saw the two-ship coming right at us. Looking beautiful! All of could say was the ever so eloquent: “Wow!….Wow!….Wow!”

Everyone looked at me, looked where I was looking. They flew right over us and Yeager broke first. Quite a back drop with Las Vegas skyline behind him. The other broke. I thought, they weren’t all that low. Darn. We watched Yeager do the approach and suddenly he was taking off again! This time he flew by much lower and that razor turn was even more cool….with the Las Vegas skyline in the background.

He came in for a landing and we watched him roll out. He turned in front of us, waved. After he passed us, we scrambled in the car and raced to a good spot. After stopping for a check, the F-15 with General Chuck Yeager taxied through the arch of water from the fire trucks. A beautiful sight.

General Yeager’s F-15 gets a bath  Yeager & F-15 get a bath

General Yeager and his F-15 get a bath after breaking the sound barrier again 65 years to the minute after the first time

Photo by Lawrence Crespo, Nellis AFB, NV

After it’s bath, it stopped right in front of me and the canopy lifted off.

The PIC turned and shook Gen Yeager’s hand. They each got out – by ladder. The 30 year old and the almost 90 year old – like mountain goats.

Gen Yeager did some photos with the maintenance guys, a couple of autographs for them – he truly honors them. His father had said, Never forget where you came from, Son.” And Yeager came from maintenance. Then more people wanted photos but Gen Yeager took a quick personal pit stop.

The young fighter pilot took Yeager’s place in front of the cameras and press.

He said: “It was the best flight of my life – to fly with my hero.

In answer to a question re how Gen Yeager held up: he said, “He held up better than me.” Very gracious, truthful :-) fellow. And just the right one to fly with General Yeager.

As the young pilot was talking, his wife and I were standing together enjoying the moment. Her husband, a maverick, is all about the flying and accomplishing the mission well. Same as my husband.  It occurred to one of the press that Gen Yeager was almost 3x as old as this fighter pilot.

Stay tuned for Part 2…..

c. GCYI

Col Russ Schleeh- 65th Anni Breaking Sound Barrier Part 2:

October 18th, 2012 . Posted in Aviation, Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Flying with Chuck Yeager, Friends, Goodbyes, Historical, Public Appearance | Comments Off on Col Russ Schleeh- 65th Anni Breaking Sound Barrier Part 2:
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

After breaking the sound barrier, doing a press conference, a 1.5 hour talk, we rushed to the civilian jet. After a bit of a delay and we were off to Chino – about 41 minutes.

Beautiful country. I flew co-pilot. Gen Yeager and DK in the back.

We landed and hurried over to the hangar where our friend Bob was telling stories about Col Russ Schleeh at a Celebration of Life for Russ.

We espied Bob Hoover and Dan Gurney, made our way over and said hello. Bob got up and told a story and introduced Chuck Yeager.

The crowd gasped, thrilled that Chuck Yeager was there.

CY told a few great Russ Schleeh stories – mostly in his book.

He sat down and Dan got up – told a few stories as well.

Russ was a very positive, fun, funny guy. Every time we called he was so excited and thrilled, so positive. Here was a guy who had had a stroke 10 years earlier but every day was a great day.

He had been a bomber pilot in World War II, chief of fighter test, chief of bomber test, and then held world records on the water.

He also was the only one who congratulated Chuck after he broke the sound barrier in 1947 – the others were annoyed that the most junior officer (Yeager) got the best project and succeeded.

Dan and the guys would meet once a week at a restaurant for breakfast/lunch to get Russ out of the house and visiting with friends. We tried to go if we were anywhere in Southern California. Luckily it ended up being 1-2 times/year.

When CY joked with him about shooting at Bob Hoover when they were bear huntin’ – Russ told me, “If I was shootin’ at him, I woulda hit him!”  Still feisty!

Chuck told a story at lunch one time about Russ flying the YB-49, a flying wing. He landed, broke his back, saved his co-pilot’s life and tried to block the fire department from putting out the fire: Let the sumbit– burn!

Chuck continued the story at one of the luncheons: Russ ended up in a full body cast except for a couple of spots. Pancho said: I bet he’s thirsty and horny. She put on a big coat, stuffed the pockets with whiskey and brought her best “girl”.  And snuck them both into Russ. She left the whiskey and the girl – I don’t remember her name –

Russ, 50 years later, “Julie. Her name was Julie, ” said with a look of sheer ecstasy in remembering.

The last time we saw Russ, Dan Gurney had had a private lunch with just about 8 of us. Russ was in his wheelchair, sleeping until and unless Chuck Yeager was speaking. Then he’d wake up. Esp if Chuck Yeager was telling on Russ Schleeh.

Such good-natured ribbing.

Right after that private lunch, we went off to Afghanistan to visit the troops. We were gone just under 6 weeks.

A couple days before we headed home, we got an email that Russ was failing, please call. But no number. So I emailed back asking for the number. Never heard.

We got home from the Middle East late Saturday night. I didn’t worry about the time  too much – it was 10:30 pm. We called Russ.

His nurse put the phone to his ear. He couldn’t talk but he was thrilled to hear from his good friend Chuck and his shorter term, but still, good friend Victoria. He smiled a lot apparently.

We hung up glad we had gotten a chance to talk to him.

He died the next day. A great soul. GREAT, great soul.

c. GCYI

Flying a Diamond

October 2nd, 2012 . Posted in Aviation, Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Flying with Chuck Yeager | Comments Off on Flying a Diamond
Tags: , , , , , , ,
I hadn’t flown the Diamond in almost 2 months, which meant I hadn’t flown alone – different kind of confidence.

I dropped off Gen Yeager at the Husky and drove on down. I had learned how to save money on a rental – call ATIS first so I did. Winds calm. Not so sure about that.

Did the pre-flight, got in, followed the checklist and taxied on out. Comfortable.

At 25 end of runway off to the side, there was a fire so I called in – someone was clearing brush and doing controlled burning. No one was there and it was a pretty high fire – next to the run up area so I stayed on the taxiway.

I got on the runway and took off. Calm. I mean me. I was scanning more easily and comfortable. Until….

General Chuck Yeager “jumped” me. Good thing he didn’t have any guns and I wasn’t the enemy. He was on my wing. Then he motioned for me to fly his wing. He waggled me in. I did. Fun! I didn’t get too close, because I was still sorting out my speed, getting back used to the plane, without the added formation flying. I was fine.

Then he put me in trail and turned left. This was cool. I knew what to do and was doing it.

He then told me to take the lead to do a touch and go as they were doing a full stop.

I did as told. Called downwind. Then all heck broke loose. Everyone was in the pattern. Someone called out 45, then downwind. Eventually mentioned me. Then EVENTUALLY asked if the Husky was going ahead of him.

Gen Yeager of course said: No, I’ll go behind you

And put himself in a position to watch this unsafe pilot.

That got my ears up.

I turned early so I could see the guy, and then got a huge lift from the reservoir (ATIS was saying winds calm – sure, uh huh, at the airport sort of – but not on base or final.).

I wondered for a second if I would be comfortable slipping.

I was. And I did.

I didn’t get over the flaps speed BUT I was still too fast at about 70 knots. As I pulled out of the slip at the flare, I zoomed back up again at that speed. I decided I might get down in time but not for a touch and go so did a go-around. I realized I was still worried about the plane behind me, because I seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when I made the decision and executed the go-around. During this process I had reminded myself that being in a hurry effects my skills – so best to take out the cause of the hurry. That effected my decision to go-around, too – let the guy land, but not with me on the runway or in the way.

This other plane was practicing too unfortunately as they were staying in the pattern.

My next time, I got very low but was concerned if I had an engine out and a down draft. I stayed low – (red red on VASI for your reference) and was lifted really high at the reservoir – far more than normal.

I slipped it but again, too fast so when I flared – whoosh – high. I did another go-around.

This time I got really low, the updraft again. I slipped it again, a little slower – but always cognoscent of a potential stall and spin so still to fast. I lifted up at the flare but not so bad. I got it down okay and took off.

When I came around again, I got myself low.

While I was turning and then on final: the other airplane, at the run up area, called departing runway 2 5 and kept talking for a while – but hadn’t taken the runway.

I was darned if I was going around again due to this guy so I called in: I AM on final, please wait.

He acknowledged me and said he would. And did. I watched him and then realized I may be too focused on him, so fly my plane. It occurred to me that if I had to do an emergency landing, if I got an updraft and couldn’t slip it effectively, I’d be toast.

I slipped it and when I flared I lifted up, so I slowed it way down, dropping in, dropped the nose a little to get some more speed, was floating for several 100 feet at about 1-2 feet above the runway. I considered my alternatives. I was sure I could land but would I have enough runway to go around. Probably – I would still have enough speed so it wouldn’t take much runway.

If I didn’t I’d stop, taxi back, take off – probably would need more room to stop. Didn’t want to take the time to taxi back – rather fly.

I decided to land to prove I could get down for an emergency. Well, not to prove it – that’s a bad idea – what if I didn’t have enough room to stop. The reason was to increase my confidence that I could. I also decided I had enough runway to do a touch and go.

So I floated a little more, decreased my speed a little more and suddenly lost all lift and was going to put some power on but thought I didn’t need to and it would put me too far down the runway for a touch and go, when I dropped in.

It wasn’t a very hard landing but it was a somewhat hard little bounce and a little hard landing. I rolled a bit and every sound sounded louder so I considered going in to check the landing gear, but listened carefully and decided it was all normal.

I took off….PLENTY of runway left.

The next time around, I got myself low, slipped a little after the huge lift, took out the slip at the flare, lifted again (still not comfortable getting slow and not sure what speed – how slow I can get before problems, slowed it way down, dropping in a bit fast, so added power, just as I…

kissed the ground, pulled power and rolled out. Woo hoo.

But weird.

Is that kosher?

Sure, but I should still be able to do the slip better. Will practice later.

As I was pulling off the runway, the other plane asked if I was clear yet. I waited two seconds as I rolled off and cleared, then called in: I have just cleared the runway.

I wanted him to know I hadn’t forgotten, just hadn’t cleared, and was glad he asked first.

I#1 told me Saturday at the Air Show at Marysville that that’s what bush pilots do. Drop it in and put a little power just before touching for a smooth landing.

He also told me that 5 kts above stall speed is fine on a slip. We’ll go out and do some soon.

After I secured the airplane, I told General Yeager, who was waiting for me, what had happened and we should check the landing gear and tires. The tires seemed low to me (who hadn’t flown in it almost two months). He looked at it and said the tires were fine and the landing was fine. I had pulled no g’s. I told the maintenance guys – they could get under it – we hadn’t.

They thanked me for telling them and said: You’re probably fine if Gen Yeager looked at it.

Then they told me of stories of other “drop-ins” from higher heights, bigger g’s and all was fine.

I told them please make sure as we didn’t get up under it and it’s a learning opportunity for them.

They did it (while I was watching and while Gen Yeager was talking to the maintenance group at the company next door) – up and under it.

General Yeager had given me his reasoning while they were doing this, which, when they were done, I gave them.

Gen Yeager was right (of course) – it was all fine.

c. GCYI

Quincy – Take Two

September 25th, 2012 . Posted in Aviation, Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Flying with Chuck Yeager, Food | Comments Off on Quincy – Take Two
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Quincy – Take Two

If you have to do more than one approach I’m not flying with you to Quincy again no more!

I decided I had better get myself low enough. And if I have to go around resign myself that Gen Yeager will not be flying with me to Quincy again. Or not in the near future – even though we go there for some GREAT sandwiches.

I checked with weather briefing – sky clear, smooth, great day for flying. Some fires northwest not a factor. TFRs at Beale – not a factor.

This time I had learned to just put in 2O1 – NOT K-2-O-1. It has to do with having numbers in the identifier. Some say it has to do with “no approach” – however at Nevada County, we had an approach with numbers in the identifier. It was when we got an AWOS that we had to change, says I#1.

We pre-flighted, got in – now I have to tell you, getting in the Diamond DV20 takes some doing no matter how old you are. Getting out is even harder. Especially if you are male and over 20. Gen Yeager does it, but carefully.

Gen Yeager: No wind, you can take off on 7.

Me: They (owners of airplane) restrict us from taking off on 7.

Gen Yeager: Why?

Me: No place to land if in trouble after take-off.

Gen Yeager: There’s none the other way either!

Me: Agreed but those are the rules if we want to fly this airplane.

I realized I hadn’t flown in a while – maybe three weeks – in the Diamond.

So we taxied on up. Run-up and then called departing Runway 2-5 right turn departure.

Me: Ready?

Gen Yeager: Yes.

And when I had flown, it was lighter and took off a little earlier. But we were fine – smooth take-off. At 700’ above the runway turned right.

A few seconds later I heard:

Masdipewirypyr023975hgrona (garble) and then “upwind for 2-5”.

I looked and didn’t see anyone “upwind for 2-5”.

I considered saying something on the radio and should have when I heard “crosswind for 2-5”.

Never did see them.

Later I heard the same airplane say Grass Valley after the Unicom operator asked them if they needed parking.

I definitely should have said something – I don’t think they even knew I was there or had monitored the radio before they called in on “upwind”.

We climbed to 9500’. It was hazy and so I asked: Do you think the visibility is good enough to go to Quincy?

Gen Yeager: You always have this if there are fires in the area – but you have at least 15 miles of vis.

I can’t get used to realizing that before I get to the area I can’t see, I’ll be able to see it. Hard to explain – but if I can’t see the 16th mile, then I think – better turn around because that’s where vis is 0. Instead of, vis is still 15 miles there. And if it’s not, I’ll know before I get there.

So we continued on – some mild turbulence that gave a gentle wag of the plane.

And distance is not my best talent either. Gen Yeager: Let down before you are over the airport. (Last time, we were doing dead reckoning so weren’t sure we were there till we were right there.)

And: Head a little East so you can reverse course from the way we left (gaining altitude down the valley – so now lose altitude down the valley)

Me: Is it just over this ridge or the next one.

Gen Yeager: Next one.

A few minutes later: Isn’t that the airport?

Me: I thought you can’t see it until you go right over the ridge.

He was right of course. So I started doing s turns to let down (to 3400’ runway elevation).

When we got down to 500’ I called in long final.

And we got down just past the numbers. However, I had misunderstood what Gen Yeager had said before and so we lost life about 2 feet up, so certainly didn’t grease it. I put some power on and smoothed it out. I was too slow at the last bit – overcompensating for being too hot and high before.

We taxied on in, parked. I called the FBO where I rent the plane – they have their own flight following.

We walked on in to town. It’s a very long walk when one is hungry.

I never understand this – we got to the restaurant and a group was leaving. But they weren’t. They stood right in the doorway and didn’t move – discussing what they were going to do next. They saw us waiting.

I finally said: Excuse me –

Nothing happened. So I said it more loudly to get their attention. They woke up and moved.

Lunch was great – he had the grilled cheese with grilled onions, avocado, and something else. And I had the sirloin burger with Swiss cheese, avocado. Happy campers!

While waiting for our food, Gen Yeager said: We hit kinda hard, didn’t we?

Me: Yes. Why?

Gen Yeager: You lost lift. You need to either come in flatter or with more speed and flare. You know how high you are above the runway.

I looked perplexed.

Gen Yeager watching me: Understand?

Me: I understand the words. But a while back you had said get the attitude, I thought on final, and then land.

Gen Yeager: No. (And he repeated what he had said) and then: You get a downdraft and you are going to land even harder and hurt your airplane and yourself.

Me: I think I was overcompensating for being too high and too fast last time.

Gen Yeager: Well, watch your airspeed. And you could have been lower on final.

After lunch, Gen Yeager headed back while I did a detour to check out Quincy – nice town, lots of interesting places to eat – wish we had those in Grass Valley. And the city hall and museum area – nice and open. The facades along the main street – that old western feel which I love.

I headed back to the airport jogging to catch up to Gen Yeager.

At the airport is the Visitors Center. I asked the woman there (Casey) if we might be able to get a ride into town next time – it’s a long way in when we’re hungry.

Johnny was talking to Gen Yeager – gave Gen Yeager a book about himself. Casey came out to get an autograph for her husband whose birthday was the next day and who thinks the world of Chuck Yeager.

Gen Yeager wanted to take off the opposite direction “recommended” to show me how to handle rising terrain and valleys and how to judge if there’s enough room to climb.

I asked Johnny about it. He said there’s no wind – we recommend 6. He assessed the situation (that Gen Yeager wanted to take off on 24 and checked the wind) and said, you’ll be fine, the wind is coming from the south in the valley as usual so you’ll have some up drafts if you stay to the north side. Remember you never fly down the middle of a valley because you may not have room to turn around and if you turn downwind you’ll have to turn steeply and all your lift is in the turn and that’s where you get in trouble.

After we were alone, Gen Yeager to me: You’ll be 1000’ above the ridges before you get to them.

I remind Gen Yeager that I ask others because sometimes they tell me, or remind me of, things that Gen Yeager assumes I remember. I don’t EVER ask others because I don’t believe Gen Yeager.

We talked a little while longer and then headed to our plane. Another plane was just coming in – a family of four (two little girls).

While getting in I said “Hello” to one daughter staring at me from just outside their plane. “Are you from here?”

The father said, No, the bay area.

I started getting myself in the plane.

The pilot started walking over with his toddler daughter.

Gen Yeager: Sorry – we have to get going. (To head them off – sometimes he likes to just be left alone which is fair.)

Me: Sorry –

The fellow said whoops and headed back. I wish we had had time – they seemed like a nice family.

I was a little distracted so didn’t call our FBO to commence flight following again.

I realize more than ever, now that I am a pilot, that it is very important to not talk about anything else while prepping to fly. And by the same token, I am going to try to remember to not approach anyone as they are preparing to fly.

Gen Yeager doesn’t want anyone coming up to him an hour before he’s to fly a plane especially one he hasn’t flown in a while.

We taxied down to the other end, did the run up and Gen Yeager was pleased – well, I was! – that I remembered to go to the very edge.

Me: Ready

Gen Y: Yes. Now remember turn slightly to the right once you’re airborne

Me: Okay.

I held the brakes, slowly push the throttle up to full power, let go the brakes and we were off.

We climbed quickly, We turned slightly right.

Gen Y: See? Plenty of time to get above the ridges!

Me: (The eloquent one) Yep!

We were getting all sorts of updrafts and lift.

Gen Y: This is a much better way to go – more on track to Grass Valley.

He was right.

We headed home. We had some moderate turbulence now and again, but it was a little less hazy.

About 20 miles out, I saw the airport.

Gen Yeager: Now remember don’t go so slow when you land you lose lift.

Me: O.K. (gulp. I knew my timing was off, and had thought I needed to talk to I#1 – maybe even do a short lesson with him but Gen Yeager was right on, as usual).

There was some more turbulence and I thought – oh sure, and now there’s crosswinds too!

I did the pattern and came in about the right height but we were sinking so as I put on power, Gen Yeager mimed putting on power. Great minds….I wish!

And we got to the numbers and I pulled the power but again we were sinking too fast so I put some on and waited till we just about touching and pulled the power and we…..yikes!… greased it on.

Woo hooo! And Phew!

Another great adventure with Gen Yeager!

c. GCYI

Mountain flying – Where’s Quincy?

September 25th, 2012 . Posted in Aviation, Daily Life with Chuck Yeager, Flying with Chuck Yeager | Comments Off on Mountain flying – Where’s Quincy?
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Gen Yeager and I flew to Quincy in the Diamond. I had asked about Quincy because I heard a restaurant there was almost worth the $100 hamburger :-)

I had heard high density altitude and ridges obscuring the runway when you are on downwind. And you have to take off in only one direction no matter the wind in order to gain altitude.

So I had wanted to go with Gen Yeager first and waited till he got home. The original plan was to fly formation but the Husky was on vacation with its owner.

As usual, I learned a lot.

First off, I did a weather briefing on the drive to the airport. I had forgotten what I had printed out about Quincy. Sigh. The weather briefer was very patient and gave me the code.

It took a little sorting out – there are two China MOAs according to the briefer. I had told him I was looking at the chart and there is one northeast of Sacramento. I asked if his was China Lake. The one we would be near was not active.

However, when I put the code in the airplane, it didn’t work. I put in K-2-O (as in Oscar) 1. It didn’t take. I tried a few times. Motor was running so we decided dead reckoning would be fine.

When we got to the run-up area, Gen Yeager asked me: What heading are you going to use?

Me: Without wind, it would be 4 degrees.

Gen Yeager: Allllll right.

So we headed north. The weather briefer had said the winds were out of the Northwest. But Gen Yeager (I was in left seat), kept making motions with his hand to indicate the wind was coming from the East and pushing us a bit.

I pointed out the lakes from the map. I should be a bit to the East of that lake and that lake too. Hmmm.

We had tracking on the GPS, so could see the MOA. Gen Yeager said: It hasn’t been active for years.

Oh. I had avoided it a lot on the other side – the other side is near the practice area.

We had trouble seeing Quincy. Gen Yeager: We can always to Lake Almanor (which was north of Quincy. Northeast.) That’s easy to see.

Me: OK.

We flew a little further. I showed Gen Yeager the map and where we were.

We flew a little further.

Gen Yeager: Well, there’s Lake Almanor.

Hmm. Oh! Hint Hint is what he was really saying.

Me: IT IS?

OH.

I flew a little East and looked over the ridge. Nestled in the mountains was a little town – didn’t look like the shape on the chart but close….ish….little ish…

Me: That looks like it…could be Quincy.

General Yeager looked – from his side he couldn’t see the runway I could see. He was questioning.

Me: Now if the FAA Chairman had just taken my suggestion and implemented it – how easy it would be if the Airport and location and frequency were painted on the airport for me to read.

Gen Yeager: (ever the pragmatist) Well, she didn’t.

Me: Close enough – I think that’s it. We’ll try it.

I called in – its official name was Gansner. Now if that isn’t a mouthful! Wonder who Mr. or Ms. Gansner was?

I turned a little stepper and showed Gen Yeager the runway. He felt better re my judgment when he saw there was a runway :-)

We had to lose 6500’ of altitude. So we circled down. While doing this, I cautioned Gen Yeager I needed a sterile cockpit while I was in the pattern.

Gen Yeager: I won’t say ANYTHING. :-)

Me: Well, no! (Yikes!) I WANT you to please jump in if there’s danger or potential danger and I do want your help.

I realized I was still freaked out about the P-51 incident and being distracted. I guess it was still distracting me.

I chose runway 6 and was too uncomfortable getting on downwind behind the ridge. So I was still 900’ high when I turned base too early – the mountains aren’t that close but I still can’t judge distance too well. And you hear of people losing lift and the ability to turn around when they fly up canyons – I still haven’t sorted out the edge of that envelope and I wasn’t even in that direction really.

I tried to slip the plane while on final. It appeared we weren’t going to land until at least, at least halfway down the runway (and I had already done the roll out for the high density altitude – we might have had 3-500’ to spare. Might have. I did a go-around.

Gen Yeager, I could tell, was itching to say something. :-) Heck I was itching to say something!

After I chose to go-around he made a suggestion. Instead of going all the way around, since there was no, (zip, none) traffic; set up for 2-4.

So I looped around.

I still couldn’t get myself down enough, so we did a 360 at slow flight getting lower and lower.

I realized I’m not comfortable these days at slow flight low to the ground. So I have rather zoomed to the final and then tried to slow down. Doesn’t work.

I still headed for the runway a little bit high but much lower and a little hot at the end. But we floated and landed fairly smoothly.

General Yeager breathed a huge sigh of relief. It wasn’t loud but I could feel it.

We walked in the 107 degree heat to the restaurant in town. After we had each had a fresh-squeezed lemonade, he said: You need to get lower on final.

Me: Yes.

AND: I saw you slowed it up to lose altitude but when you pitched up you gained 200’.

Me: Ah. O.K.

AND: You could have landed it but would have needed some serious braking – and would have stopped before the end.

Me: Oh, good. I THOUGHT so but I didn’t need to wear out the brakes, didn’t HAVE to land – that’s why I went around.

We ate a superb lunch – unusual sandwiches.

Then we walked back with a lot more energy :-)

As were walking back, Gen Yeager said: Take off to the west.

I looked at the terrain – he may be able to and get enough altitude but…how do I…disagree…, well it’s not disagreeing, it’s telling him I’m not as capable as he. Wait a minute, he’s testing me!

By the time we got to the airport, there was a light breeze suggesting we take off the other way. I mentioned this.

He grinned and said: O.K.

Testing.

I asked the guy in the first hangar since the gals in the office – visitors’ center on the airport – didn’t know anything re the airport – about the code and the GPS.

I had forgotten something if I had ever known it.

No “K” for an airport without an IFR approach. So I should have just inputted 2-O-1 – not K2O1.

As we taxied out, Gen Yeager said: Now start at the very end of the runway, hold your brakes while you bring the power all the way up and when it’s up, let your brakes off.

I started toward the end and he said: The end!

I understood completely just as he said: Where the pavement touches the grass.

I straightened out, held the brakes, powered up, let go the brakes and we started our roll.

I think I would not have thought of that. We needed all the climb we could get to get over the ridge. This morning, I had checked the length we needed for the density altitude, temperature, etc. and knew the runway at Gansner Airport in Quincy (where we were) was long enough by 50-75%.

I’ll be remembering to start at the end and hold brakes while powering up from now on – I have Gen Yeager in my head.

We took off, slowly gaining altitude up the valley. After a short time, Gen Yeager asked: Where’s Grass Valley?

Testing. Hint. Hint.

I pointed to my right.

He told me to turn toward the ridge – I had enough time and distance to clear it.

I headed that way. Had I been alone I would have gained more altitude. So this was a GREAT learning experience.

I kept heading.

Gen Y: Where you going?

Me: Toward the saddle.

Gen Y: That one is closer.

I headed for it.

Gen Y: Climbing at 1000’/minute.

Hint. I was so pleased with myself – I had already noted that.

We’ll make it. But if I were alone….I could keep heading this way, not in trouble yet – still room to turn and then gain some altitude. Didn’t have to do my Plan B, of course – we cleared it with plenty of altitude to spare. Got it.

Headed home.

Got back to Grass Valley – and got on downwind. Slow flight, losing altitude slowly. Then base. Slowly. Final. On target, low and slow but still safe.

We landed beautifully. Still a little bit fast on short final. But just a little bit.

Gen Yeager really is happy when I show what I’ve learned from him so quickly.

c. GCYI

Shooting down a P-51

September 25th, 2012 . Posted in Aviation | Comments Off on Shooting down a P-51
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I wrote this a couple years ago:

Well Friday was a doozy. If I had had some guns on my two-seater Diamond, I would have shot the P-51 down. OR Walter Mitty would have.
General Yeager was fishing in Alaska on the Aleutian chain.

Friday morning, the airport was alive with preparations for the air show Saturday.

I#1 said: Watch out for incoming Warbirds.

I noticed the wind and decided I would just do a little local flying and then some touch and go’s. They -having mixed feelings between the rental income and getting prepped for the air show – washing and waxing it – wanted the plane back early.

I started doing pre-flight and since the plane had not been put away properly I got myself mixed up and put the flaps up instead of down when I checked the fuel gauge and lights. I corrected it after I got to the first flap. Obviously.

Then I was interrupted by the staff re something or other. I decided I needed to slow down to go faster. I had already done that but needed to do it more. I hadn’t flown this plane in a while – I had been flying other planes.

My tail dragger instructor, since he doesn’t solo people or rent out the plane cuts corners – which gets me in bad habits. For instance, he has no written checklist. And when I arrive he says he’s pre-flighted it. I find pre-flighting is a fantastic tool for focusing. Or realizing I’m not focused so I should see if I can focus, or if not, not fly that day.

So after the interruption, not about flying (and not about flying that airplane that day), I re-started from just about the beginning.

I followed the checklist. I’m always surprised when I get to the part where I can start taxiing – it seems to come so quick after the checklist – which, in writing, seems long.

As I headed up the ramp, I called in. A truck was starting down – most people driving around this airport have no clue. I waited. He waited. Then he got a clue and moved off.

As I was on the taxiway, a bonanza called in. I was about to ask him where he was going as he looked like he was coming right at me, then it looked like he was going away, so I started moving again. Whoops, he was getting closer. I called in where are you going, Bonanza (glad I could recognize and remember one airplane – easier than most – it had a v tail).

Bonanza: To the pumps, as he turned off.

Me: Thanks.

As I continued to 2-5, I heard (can’t remember what airplanes): 10 miles south Flight of 2 for a fly by and break for landing.

I debated – no they would be in long before I completed my run-up so I won’t be waiting long.

As I completed my run-up, they were turning final for the fly-by. I thought through timing and decided I’d be waiting 5-10 minutes for them to land, paying for all that non-flying time, too :-).

So I called in I was taking position and holding, traffic in sight. I don’t know if I would have done this if I hadn’t been with Gen Yeager and watched his timing when there was a lot of traffic. I gave myself more cushion than he would need, though.

I started on the runway when the second one was 1000’ above and just a little ahead – knowing that if he had to land, he wouldn’t, couldn’t, even if he lost an engine, need the end of the runway where I would be holding. I saw the one break – but for a split second was not absolutely sure if it was the first or second plane so waited a little to make sure I saw both. Good idea.

When I saw the second one break, I called in: NC, Diamond 3 delta charlie, rolling…taking off 2-5 straight out, traffic in sight.

They called downwind, traffic in sight. Very pleasant. I was glad I hadn’t been distracted.

I then decided to fly out towards the practice area – bumpy! And it didn’t bother me at all. I even dropped about 2-3 feet. Woo hoo.

I thought about the radios. I hadn’t talked on them to ATC in months. So I practiced before I switched over – what to say.

Me: Approach, november 2 niner 3 delta charlie.

Approach: November 2 niner 3 delta charlie, state your intentions.

Me: Request flight following, just going to the practice area to practice maneuvers, 3 delta charlie.

Approach: &^&*%^&$ traffic (I think)

Hmmm.

Approach: Squawk 0344 (or something – I did remember and get it right then). You’re 1.5 miles north of Beale. Say altitude.

Me (woo hoo, I’m understanding this): four thousand 3 hundred 5 0.

Approach: $&%$*^

Me: Say again. (Uh oh).

Other plane: Norcal Approach, bla bla bla.

Ah, I forgot Norcal Approach. I also forgot my airplane type.

Approach: What type airplane.

Me: (smile – Gen Yeager often says he knows what they are going to say :-) hope this talent is rubbing off but he did mean it differently than the instance here): Diamond. 3 delta charlie.

I did some steep turns. Comfortable – so much so that I had to keep verifying I was steep enough. To the right – Near perfect – within the confines of VFR and of IFR except for about 2 seconds. Wow. Debated practicing some stalls but decided…not comfortable today or by….

The truth?

By myself.

Actually what I was most uncomfortable about was my lack of prep. I had intended to just do touch and go’s but then decided to just have fun and fly around locally. But I hadn’t checked for TFRs. While there are lots of places we can go that are Class E, I still would have needed to make sure I had frequencies readily available, winds aloft, TFRs, etc.

Thank goodness for GPS – while I saw Beale and turned away from in it plenty of time since I knew from experience, I was glad to have the GPS telling me how close I was. It’s also why I asked for flight following – to help me not violate any space and to watch out for traffic.

I considered doing some touch and go’s at Oroville away from the Nevada County air show arrivals.

Sigh. I didn’t have Oroville frequency and didn’t feel like asking Approach.

I heard Approach alert someone to my position, doing maneuvers.

Sort of.

I looked for a good spot to do some s turns and turns around a point but didn’t see any, couldn’t find the practice barn so decided to head back anyway before the traffic at Nevada County got too heavy.

When I got within 15 miles, I called Approach and asked to change freq.

Approved.

Me: Thank you.

I flew over our house. None of the neighbors were home – all away for the weekend.

There was no one on frequency, no one flying. Great.

I was quite alert, lots of activity on the ground.

ATIS told me higher density altitude and wind at 7kts at 170. Since I planned a touch and go, I decided on 2-5.

I did all my turns, all fine. Except on final I realized I was high. I tried slipping and was at a good speed (not too fast) but wasn’t getting down enough.

Me: Nevada county, 3 delta Charlie on the go.

That’s when I realized I hadn’t put in the second set of flaps.

I realized the wind was stronger aloft and blowing me into the runway so I had to crab and in fact, fly my downwind a bit away from the runway.

I got lower, which worried me, as it was bumpy – meaning some downdrafts too. But over that reservoir I took off a bit.

I got myself down – nice landing.

I powered up for the “go” when I lifted off quickly (often it is quick as you are already somewhat powered up) so I went with it.

Oops. I skipped the wheels on the ground as I very slightly lowered the nose and then took off with enough speed.

Someone on the radio – thought it was my instructor (it wasn’t): A bit windy, isn’t it?

Me: Yes, indeed.

For my next touch and go – I made all the calls in the pattern. On downwind, it was getting even windier and I had to fly almost 45 degrees out from the runway to keep from being blown in too close. I reconsidered – if my instructor (I was still thinking it was he) is mentioning the windiness – hmmm. It was supportive, but was it a strong suggestion?

This was right towards the edge of my envelope of learning and had there not been so much prepping for the air show the next day – I would have landed, gotten my instructor and gone for some good crosswind and slipping instruction.

Instead, after critical analysis – deciding it was getting windier so perhaps pushing my envelope a bit much (and they wanted to display this plane the next day – hate to do anything to it)…

I changed from “touch and go”, to “full stop”.

VERY lucky for me.

Just before turning onto base, a down draft dropped me five feet. OK that’s getting a bit much. Didn’t scare me at all, just a message, without an instructor, time to go in.

As I was on short final, after having sorted out getting low enough without too much problem from the down drafts, the huge uplift over the reservoir, on final, having made all my calls properly and timely, knowing I could probably land in time for a full stop but could always do a go-around;

I saw….

A P-51 HEADING STRAIGHT FOR ME, losing his already low altitude for either landing or doing a low fly by.

Me: Nevada County 3 delta Charlie, I am on SHORT FINAL ON 2-5, GET OUT OF MY WAY NOW!

He was still heading for me. Trees to my right, people and buildings to my left, a P-51 straight ahead. No chance for a go-around. No options but to land ASAP and get under him.

I did. It was not my best landing. I bounced – more like clunked – as he disappeared overhead – (he had finally seen me and finally decided to pull away (or had just completed his fly-by) – and clunked again…

And clunked one more time before I got my wits about me to put on some power to smooth out the landing. I was now mad I hadn’t concentrated on a smoother landing. It wasn’t bad; the dropping/clunking was just a foot.

And then finally smoothing it out. But I’d have to work on my fighter pilot skills and not get so easily distracted!

As I rolled out, someone – again I thought it was my instructor – it wasn’t, it was the airport manager: Victoria, are you going to quit?

Everyone on radio had heard me and knew something very serious was up.

Me: Yes.

As I was taxiing in, the P-51 driver: I called at 10 miles out, 7 miles out, 5 miles out, didn’t you hear me?

Me (I said something like the following): NO! No one heard you. It still would not have given you the right to do what you did. Didn’t you hear me? I was in the pattern! I was on short final! Didn’t you look? Didn’t you see me? (What were you thinking? – but I didn’t say that :-).

P-51 driver: I’m sorry.

As I heard later, MANY people were horrified by this P-51. They saw his low fly by, then me taxi off the runway. Gulp. And they were impressed I did an excellent landing with all this distraction (including my instructor). Excellent landing – you can use the plane the next day.

I went into the office after I put the plane to bed. Everyone told me they heard me – I did all the right calls. However, no one heard him.

Even so, calling from 10 miles out doesn’t give you right of way.

Just another rich guy with a P-51, arrogance, and no sense is what several people told me.

I waited in the office – a few people did, but he didn’t come in. Heck I probably wouldn’t have either. Yes, I would – I don’t avoid apologizing for my mistakes.

I asked a few likely suspects on the way to the office if they were the one on radio.

I#1: No. Told you to look out for warbirds! (He said smiling – glad I was okay. Told me about some of his distractions and how he handled them, to make me feel better).

Airport Manager: Not the first one. I was the one who asked if you were quitting.

I saw Sherm – another employee at the airport – nice fellow. The light went on. He confirmed he was the first one on radio saying “Windy out there.”

Now Sherm said: Pretty good landing for the gusts you were getting.

I told him: Actually my landing was fine, what you saw was my take-off.

He laughed understanding.

I started some analysis: 1. My trim may not have been set right….No! Right! It was a gust from behind that lifted me and I thought it was the airplane ready to take off!!! OHHHH!

I thanked Sherm for the clue.

I sure wish I could recognize that more quickly than an hour later! I handled it. I actually learned a lot and so loved it!

I didn’t realize until later that I was very angry. I get angry when my life has been put in danger (especially thru stupidity). I didn’t realize the distraction was that I was trying to figure out my options and I had only one – get on the ground ASAP and off the runway, and maybe even onto the dirt, if need be ASAP. Turns out I didn’t need to get off the runway asap or go in the dirt.

Even now thinking about it….gives me the chills.

c. GCYI

BEAUTIFUL, GLORIOUS DAY in the SIERRAS

September 12th, 2012 . Posted in Flying with Chuck Yeager, Wildlife | Comments Off on BEAUTIFUL, GLORIOUS DAY in the SIERRAS
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Having traveled all over the world all my life to many beautiful places, I’m often reminded of how beautiful and diverse the United States of America is.

Today, Gen Yeager and I helped with some fish planting in the High Sierras. We did 2 of the 3 flights – each lasting 1.5 -3.5 hours.

We saw rivers pouring over cliffs, and…well…infinity lakes. We flew around them figuring out safe plans of attack and flight

We had to:

fly over the ridge,

drop down low,

lower 1-3 of the tanks full of tiny golden trout,

slow waaaaaaaay down just over each lake and,

just at the right moment, press the button that would drop 1000 tiny golden trout.

then immediately pull up or turn to fly down a valley so as not to slam into the side of the mountains.

Sometimes we could turn and watch the little fish reach the lake: glistening little sparklets of white light.

I had visions of little fish screaming as they were dropped from the plane:

“WAIT! I’m not evolved! Not a bird yet – no wings! Hey! Aaaaaaaaaah!”

And others screaming: “FREEEEEEEDOM from the bonds of the hatchery….weeeeeee!”

And at the last minute, holding their little noses as they dropped into the lake.

If we missed, we’d have left lots of little golden trout petriglyphs and fossils.

We figured the very few  (one-three) left in the tanks in the plane we could  make petites fritteurs poissons (small fried fish – one eats the whole thing, crunchy, tasty, moist) – one of General Yeager’s favorite dishes from his days near Arcachon, France in the ’50s.

The pilots made it look easy but this was altitude flying, close to the mountain cliffs, gaining and losing altitude – as much as 500-1000′, sometimes with turbulence.

Mono Lake, Half Dome, Tahoe, Emerald Bay, glaciers, John Muir Trail, so many, many lakes tucked away hidden just round or over ridges. Some were brilliant blue, some dark blue, others light blue, some a combination.

General Yeager gave us a running commentary from his years of fishing and huntin’ in the Sierras starting in 1945. Each year he’d spend 30 days walking across the Sierras.

I had the good fortune to spend 2 weeks with General Yeager in the High Sierras twice. I remember dropping an “atta boy” on the ground, picking it up, and wiping it on my pants before I popped it in my mouth.

General Yeager was by now laughing with great mirth. It dawned on me why. We had been camping for a week – and it was questionable as to which was less dirty – my pants or the ground.  (“Atta boys” were butterscotch candy or chocolate hard candy given out after a particularly grueling hike).

One of the most stunning commentary was Gen Yeager did landing tests of the C-130 on a mesa. The mesa looked like a postage stamp- can all of us were trying to envision trying to land a large C-130 on a postage stamp.

The pilots (who are good pilots) and I were lost in our thoughts trying to imagine landing that huge plane on the postage stamp. The pilots were all wonderful – clearly enjoying their work. They worked well together, were fun and very kind to us.

I flew some – heavier aircraft than I am used to – and much faster – so had to make smaller corrections to stay on top of the direction and altitude.

Sierraville, Downieville, Mammoth….we covered a lot of ground and planted a huge population of fish.

General Yeager, as he looked out at the fish reaching the lake, said: Do you notice all the bears trailing us? Waving for us to come back?

c. GCYI

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »